The Tasting Panel magazine

July 2015

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78  /  the tasting panel  /  july 2015 DOMESTIC 90 Elk Cove Vineyards 2014 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley ($19) Bright and tangy with racy citrus, silky texture and crisp acidity; fresh, smooth, lifted and minerally; lots of balance and style. 90 Mercer Estates 2013 Viognier, Culloden Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills ($18) Ripe and aromatic with tangy citrus and peach; polished and bright, long and balanced. 90 Chronic Cellars 2013 Stone Fox, Paso Robles ($20) Smooth and lush with spice, creamy texture and racy acidity; juicy, mellow and lovely with balance and generosity; exuberant and long. 66% Grenache Blanc, 34% Viogner. WINERY EXCHANGE 90 Dolin 2013 Malibu Estate Chardonnay, Malibu Coast ($39) Crisp and balanced with bright acidity and silky texture; lively, elegant and long. One of the first releases to bear the new Malibu Coast AVA designation. 92 ADELAIDA Cellars 2013 Pinot Noir, HMR Vineyard, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($40) Paso does Pinot too! Loaded with ripe cherry and spice; silky, juicy and savory with notes of sweet new oak; complex, long and graceful. 92 Cairdean Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay, Napa Valley ($46) Bright and fresh with crisp acidity and lovely vanilla oak; elegant, lush and balanced; long and classic. 93 Robert Biale 2013 Zinfandel, Limerick Lane Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($50) Generous and juicy with smooth texture, bright black raspberry and spice; balanced, fresh and long with depth and finesse. An antidote for Zinfandel doubters. 92 Lutum 2013 Chardonnay, Gap's Crown Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($50) Silky and showing nice depth and lovely texture; elegant and mellow yet with a firm core of acidity. 95 Cliff Lede 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Beautiful Generation, Stags Leap District ($95) Dark and smooth with lush, velvety texture and ripe blackberry, plum and cassis; juicy with a core of crisp acidity and notes of chocolate, mocha and vanilla; long and rich; a stunning wine. 95 Willamette Valley Vineyards 2012 O'Brien Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills ($100) Burgundy, beware! Seductive raspberry and cherry tones on crisp acidity and racy style; elegant, lifted, refined and quite beautiful. In each issue, Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dias Blue selects a wide range of the best wines and spirits from among the more than 500 he samples over the course of a month. The reviews are subjective editorial evaluations, made without regard to advertising, and products are scored on a 100-point scale: 85-89: VERY GOOD 90-94: OUTSTANDING 95-100: CLASSIC Once products are selected for publication, producers and importers will be offered the option of having their review accompanied by an image (bottle photo or label art) for a nominal fee. There is no obligation to add an image, nor does the decision affect the review or score in any way. The "twisty" icon indicates wines sealed with a screwcap closure. For additional Blue Reviews, go to www.tastingpanelmag.com. Prices are for 750 ml. bottles unless otherwise noted. Anthony Dias BLUE REVIEWS BLUE REVIEWS

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